John Q. Cook, M.D.

Learn How Forma Works

All skin tightening technologies work by the same method, which is the application of heat to a degree that tightens the deeper structure of the skin and perhaps in some cases the fascia beneath the skin. The challenge is to heat the deeper skin enough to produce tightening, but to stay below the pain threshold, which is just a little bit warmer. Above that is the level of heat that would actually produce damage to the skin, which of course must be avoided.

Advantages of Forma™

The fundamental design of the Forma hand-piece and monitoring system provides, in our opinion, two significant advantages over other systems currently available in the United States.

Advantage 1: Bipolar Radiofrequency

Most other systems simply deliver a blast of ultrasonic or radiofrequency energy into the skin. The Forma hand-piece is bipolar. This means there is a controlled flow of energy through the skin. This precision of flow is designed to provide a more uniform heating. It also allows for a gradual heating rather than blasts of energy, which tend to be painful.

Advantage 2: Continuous Monitoring

The system has a sophisticated monitoring system that continuously monitors the flow of energy and the skin temperature. This allows the system to deliver consistent energy into the sweet zone where there is enough energy to produce an effect, but not so much that the area is overheated.

We offer Forma treatments in both the Chicago office, located just off of North Michigan Avenue near the Water Tower and in the Winnetka office on the North Shore. The ideal sequence is eight treatments one week apart. Each treatment takes 30 to 45 minutes.

You may experience a period of redness in the treated area that may last for a few hours, but most patients can return to normal activities immediately following treatment. The effect of Forma is cumulative, with each treatment session building on the next. Most patients notice a significant difference after the third treatment, and the effect increases after that.

An increasing number of our patients opt to combine the wrinkle reduction of Fractora with the skin tightening of Forma for a powerful non-surgical facial rejuvenation. The treatment protocol varies with each patient, but typically involves eight Forma treatments at weekly intervals with two or three integrated Fractora treatments.